give hope. giving tuesday.

give hope. giving tuesday.

You have the opportunity to join a national movement and help our kids when you participate in Giving Tuesday! 
 
When you make a gift to Cunningham you give more than a dollar amount, you give hope.
 
Recently one of our young ladies, Layla, after months of great work at Cunningham, prepared to move from Cunningham into a more independent transitional living house in Northern Illinois. 
 
As Layla prepared for her move she met with Cunningham's Chaplain Gay King-Crede. Layla mentioned how much she would miss the simple paper-mache caterpillar that works its way up the chapel's cross during Lent.  
 
Layla shared that each spring she was sad to see the caterpillar reach the top of the cross and overnight assume its new form, a chrysalis. The caterpillar, gone from sight, was preparing for Easter morning when it would re-emerge in it's newly transformed glory as a butterfly.  
 
 
Layla had a strong connection to this caterpillar and Chaplain Gay asked if she would like to make one of her own to take with her on her move. 
 
Layla, excited about the idea of having her own caterpillar, agreed and spent time working with Gay and discussing the symbolism of the caterpillar and how it was representative of Layla's own journey while at Cunningham. 
 
When the caterpillar was complete Layla proudly declared with a smile, "I will keep this caterpillar with me for the rest of my life!"
 
Layla has since moved on to her new home, but we know without a doubt she moved on with hopefulness in her spirit.